Wolfgang Overath

Wolfgang Overath was one of the greatest midfielders in the German national team in the 60s and 70s.

Magnus Brink
tyskfotboll@hotmail.com

Overath made his debut in the German national team being just 20 and would be one of the top players until 1974 with the World Cup title in the same being the higlight of his international career. His first World Cup, as well as the first for Franz Beckenbauer, was in 1966 as West Germany played England in the legendary final. Overath excelled as one of West Germany's best players during the tournament. Overath would also score his first goal in the World Cup as he became Man of the match in the Third place final against Uruguay in 1970. Overath scored the winning goal. In 1970 Overath was a part of a great midfield still having Beckenbauer on his side. In the torunament Overath once again showed his skills for fans and journalists as one of the true key players for Germany.

Overath had early been recognized as a great talent and played in the youth teams setted up by the German federation. The talk about the great Overath reached many, among them another great talent - Günter Netzer. Overath also played for one of Germany's best youth national teams ever. Making his debut in the new Bundesliga 1963 Overath got a new record being selected for the national team after just a few matches in the national league. Overath played throughout his proffessional career for FC Cologne (1. FC Köln) and won his first title in 1964 becoming German champion. FC Cologne was the first team winning the Bundesliga. He would later win the German Cup in 1968. Overath has the record playing 409 league matches for Cologne and is also the most capped player (81 caps).

It's a pity that his last year in the club was one of controverses with the coach Hennes Weisweiler, as would large parts of his career be. In the national team however Beckenbauer would be even greater holding Overath down. It is also said that is was Overath that made the Swedish midfielder and dribble genius Roger Magnusson leave Cologne after just one summer in 1964. Magnusson would instead become a superstar in Olympique Marseilles. 		Wolfgang Overath was not a part of the West German team that won the European Championship in 1972. He hade som controverses with the coach and his role as playmaker had also been overtaken by Günther Netzer. Many at the thought that his career was all over but in 1973 he made his comeback and he would yet again become the coach's first choice.

During the 1974 tournament Overaht made two goals, against Australia and Sweden. His comeback came after Netzer hade signed on for Spanish side Real Madrid making it hard to retain his place in the national team. Overath would play his second World Cup final and become World Champions after beating the Netherlands. Overath all together played 19 matches in the World Cup, only Uwe Seeler (21) and Lothar Matthäus (25) has played more matches for Germany. After the final Overath deciced to step down from the national team. He played three more years with Cologne winning the German Cup an second time in 1977. The end came when he couldn't get along with coach Weisweiler and promptly ended his career. After ending his career he followed other former footballers as he started to work for Adidas.

President of FC Cologne
After ending his career Overath has been seen playing at the different charity events. In later years he has spent more and more time helping his old club FC Cologne and in 2004 he was elected as new club president. He was also ambassador for the city of Cologne during the World Cup in 2006.

Facts

DOB: 29th October 1943 in Siegburg (close to Cologne), Germany

Caps: 81 (1963-1974)
Goals: 17
First Cap: 28th September 1963 against Turkey in Frankfurt am Main (3 - 0)
Last Cap: 7th July 1974 against the Netherlands (2 - 1)
14 caps as team captain

Caps    Goals
1963    30
196441
196542
1966133
196781
196882
196963
1970122
197161
197380
197492
Totalt8117

World Cup



Participation: 1966, 1970, 1974
Games: 19
Goals: 3

World Cup winner 1974
Runner-up 1966
Third place 1970

Clubs

FC Cologne (1962-1977)
Siegburger SV 04 (1951-1962)

Honours

German championship (1) 1964
German Cup (2) 1968, 1977

409 matches in the Bundesliga (1963-1977)
83 goals in the Bundesliga


Sources
Kicker Sportmagazin (Sonderheft: 40 Jahre Bundesliga)
Deutscher Fussball-Bund (DFB)
TYSK FOTBOLL
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